In 2005, the suicide rate among U.S. deployed troops
By on Dec 20th, 2006 at 10:01 am
In 2005, the suicide rate among U.S. deployed troops
rose to its highest level since the start of the Iraq war. In “a study just released by the Army, the 2005 suicide rate climbed to 19.9 per 100,000, or 88 total suicides with 22 of them occurring in Iraq or Kuwait. Five of the victims were on at least their second deployment.”
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So the Army actually studies this issue, good for them. Does the rest of the military study this issue?
The general public should know about the amount of suicides involving our own soldiers.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:07 amHey there Dubya, Darth, Rummy, Perle and the rest of the Bushco Scumbags…….. does this make you stop and think?
NAWWWW!! Didn’t think so. It takes a heart to feel anything fo other people.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:09 amSo it’s lower among people who have served more than one tour.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:15 amI would commit suicide too if i realized i am governed by a bunch of criminals who are ordering me to kill innocent civilians.
People do no enlist in the army to kill civilians or innocent people.But Rumsfeld & Bush do not agree with that.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:17 amWe’ve got “suiciders” in our own armed forces?
Does GDumbya know about this?
Sounds like it may be time for him to invade Camp Pendleton…gotta fight those “terrists” on their own ground, you know.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:18 amRobert,
What do you say about this?
Rescue the Troops, Bring Them Home Now.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:28 amZooey, Robert is busy getting his troll talking points briefing. Maybe we will see him later.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:32 amZooey, Robert is busy getting his troll talking points briefing. Maybe we will see him later.
Comment by upside00
Be nice! Robert is on the Think Fast thread. :)
December 20th, 2006 at 10:41 amHe’s not a troll, he’s just supremely annoying sometimes. He would probably say the same about me. Heh.
It is impossible for Zooey to ever be annoying…
December 20th, 2006 at 10:45 amShe might scare the shit out of you, but never annoying.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:46 amZooey…Ida’HO?
Just kidding, Zooey.
Hey TP’ers, my best wishes to all of you and those serving in our armed forces a safe, warm, happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but if I hadn’t had this platform to share thoughts with others thoughout the year it would have been a tough one. ‘07 will be a tipping point for Iraq. Let’s all keep our voices loud & united.
December 20th, 2006 at 11:04 amThe only person who can make a difference in your life is you.
Why would one kill themself when they are on such a glorious and noble mission?
December 20th, 2006 at 11:19 amThis was supposed to be easy: right?
Flowers and candies,anyone?
Zooey…Ida’HO?
Just kidding, Zooey.
Yeah, what’s it to ya?
Everyone contributes to society — good or bad. :)
The only person who can make a difference in your life is you.
Comment by Zimzone
True. Happy Holidays, Zimzone.
December 20th, 2006 at 11:27 am(Z names are the best)
The 1974 Oscar-winning documentary Hearts and Minds should be re-released in theaters today so that that people can see the toll that war has upon its victims. It looks at the returning veterans from the Vietnam war and the physical and psychological effects that it had upon those U.S. servicemen who fought in another needless war. It also interviews one of the main supporters of that war, administration consultant and employee Walt Rostow, who stubbornly refused to admit that the U.S. was wrong by having invaded Vietnam [sound familar?]. The media today all too often takes an antiseptic and impersonal look at war. If people today were to see this film, then perhaps the citizens of this country would finally become outraged at our politicians who are so quick to bring this country into so many unnecessary wars.
The documentary Sir! No Sir! [2006] also explores similar territory, showing how servicemembers became so traumatized by what they had seen and/or participated in, that they refused to be a part of the war machine in Vietnam. The lessons to be drawn from these films should be to make sure that U.S. troops are not placed unnecessarily in harm’s way. Bring them home- safely- now.
December 20th, 2006 at 11:54 amZooey,
U R never annoying, always entertaining!
December 20th, 2006 at 12:02 pm(Z names are the best)
I like Omega names too: Let’s see– Ωooey.
Hhmmmm?
December 20th, 2006 at 12:03 pmThanks upside00 & Billy Bob.
Billy Bob, did you ever get your tractor out of that 6 feet of mud? :)
December 20th, 2006 at 12:10 pmFor those who served, I applaud their valor and strength to overcome the inadequacy and incompetence of this administration.
However, I am saddened by the loss of any soul to the paralyzing affects of war. Many would say that THIS is the reason they signed up for the military. While that may be true, the REAL reason is in defense of the nation a soldier is committed and pledges his oath, not the ideology of the radical Christian or irrational officials that have FALSELY created this quagmire.
The many who support the war, are in fact, the many that has NEVER served in one, and the few who are naiive enough to think that the concept of fighting abroad makes you safer here are really out of touch with the realistic meaning of victory!
“A TRUE WARRIOR secures the victory and then goes to war, whereas a DEFEATED WARRIOR goes to war, and then tries to secure the victory…”
No one can or should marginalize the loss of a loved one, son, daughter, or relative! But, their legacy is marginalized daily by the insistent support of a failed war and a disgusting president! He (DUMBYA) claims to be working for the American people; however, he has a selective view of who belongs to that category!
CINDY SHEEHAN (regardless of whether you like her or not) gave the ULTIMATE sacrifice…HER SON! How many of you would give up your son or daughter for a cause that is ill-timed, ill-devised, and PROVEN to be false? Yet, many would insult, disparage, and demean her for having the AUDACITY to question the president! Wouldn’t you do the same? But many would have you believe that they are accepting of the non-explanation of a tarnished, credibility challenged president!
Yet, I applaud her, Jim Webb and others for their restraint. Because had that BASTARD come to me and try to console me with lies of safety, security, and optomism; while, disragarding my concerns for my child to make a political point, then he (DUMBYA) would CLEARLY understand the true meaning of DISGUST and LOATHING that I feel for him!!!
I feel for those mothers, fathers, wives, husbands and childern who have lost a loved one because of thie war! My heart goes out to them and I PRAY that GOD grants them PEACE and BLESSINGS during this difficult time!
MAY GOD GRANT THEM PEACE!
December 20th, 2006 at 12:23 pmDo those who commit suicide count as war casualties in Shrub’s DOD? NOT.
December 20th, 2006 at 12:32 pm# 17. Zooey:
No;and I bet if I keep writing things like Ωooey,my tractor will be in 12′ of mud next time I check. ;-)
December 20th, 2006 at 12:36 pmThis is off of this thread – House Armed Services Chairman ‘Extremely Concerned’ With Iraq Escalation Plans -Dec. 18 ,2006
Available in older posts section for free and at absolutely no charge. You have to read the whole thread to appreciate it.It`s a real gem.
Not so fast;I have one thing I’d like to add to this discussion.
Atleast twice in the last 50 posts,unbelievable said that she ‘doesn’t lie’.
Yet she told me,thus everyone else on this blog,last spring,that her Mother was dead.This turned out NOT to be TRUE.
Now answer your own question: What kind of person would say that about their own Mother just for the sake of winning an argument?
Now you all are beginning to see why I’ve had such acrimony with her in the past.
Just for the record,BnF, I never,ever,insulted her Mother,that’s if you were referring to something I might have said.
She told me her Mom was dead after I said she probably lives at home with her Mom.
All this can be found in the archives.
This is who you are dealing with,and she has no respect.
Comment by Si Byl — December 20, 2006 @ 2:22 am
Trueblue,
Of course, Unbelievable is offended by any remark about sexuality:
Men’s peak is 17, and women’s is 40. I’m guessing I’m closer to 40 than you are to 17? :)
Comment by unbelievable — April 17, 2006 @ 4:03 pm
and:
I think it’s a plot by women in their 40’s so they can get 17 year old men :)
Comment by Tundra — April 17, 2006 @ 4:19 pm
I assure you, that’s mostly a guy fanatasy. As men age they get better in other ways. :)
Comment by unbelievable — April 17, 2006 @ 4:29 pm
and this:
If a course is called “Shaving your legs†there is no reason to discuss how to braid leghair (That’s for unbelievable)
Comment by Tundra — April 17, 2006 @ 8:34 pm
Flirting with me again, I see ; )
Comment by unbelievable — April 17, 2006 @ 8:49 pm
finally capped of by this:
If I were asked for a one line answer to the question “What makes a woman good in bed?†I would say, “A man who is good in bed.â€
- – Bob Guccione (1978)
Comment by unbelievable — April 18, 2006 @ 4:51 pm
and the email Unbelievable misquotes?
“If I were asked for a one line answer to the question “What makes a woman good in bed?†I would say, “A man who is good in bed.â€
- – Bob Guccione (1978)
Comment by unbelievable â€
amen to that!!! (care to put the hypothesis to a test? —just kidding…)
Perhaps it is Unbelievable who is envious of my spirituality. She has derided the thought of breathing a cloud away, yet I’ve taught others to do so as well.
Perhaps she was offended because I was just kidding. After all, I have mentioned on these boards that I wear a kilt. And you know what they say about a woman scorned. I mean, to take what I wrote and somehow twist that into insinuating that I, a married man, was interested in having an adulterous affair with someone who lives a couple of thousand miles away takes either dimentia, a great imagination, or wishful thinking.
And Trueblue, as you can see, a shaman would say “Amen.â€
There’s another word, a greeting, I say to you:
Namaste.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — December 19, 2006 @ 7:53 pm
December 20th, 2006 at 12:48 pmZooey,
First, Congtars on school. Give ‘em Hell!
I agree with the Col. that said “even one is too many.” I have said in the past, ALL troops returning need to go through better “post deployment decompression” to help them deal with what they have seen or been asked to do.
In the past, the Marine Corps predominantly traveled by boat everywhere. That gave at least a 30 day window for Commanders and medical staff to look over their troops after coming off the battlefield. Now, troops fly home, go through a couple of days of post deployment classes and are cut loose. Many times they are only off the battlefield a few days before they are on their own with no one to “watch out” for them. That is a bad thing to do.
Personally, I think everyone returning should have to undergo at least a minimal psych eval to look for any issues. Some people have no issues at all, while other are severely effected and show little to no indicators.
As for suicides in theater (Iraq and Kuwait), we have to look at all the reasons for the suicides. Some are definitely directly linked to what happened, or is about to happen, in Iraq. After years of society and theology telling us that killing is wrong, it is very hard for most to accept what they have seen or done. But many are also the result of other factors. Things like financial troubles and the ever so evil infidelity of a spouse back home can trigger suicidal reactions. If you are in a high stress environment and at “high alert” all the time, then suddenly something happens in your personal life that makes the world crack, it can be too much for many to bear.
I feel a lot more needs to be done about this. More time, more study, and a hell of a lot more treatment are needed. And leaders in the military, all the way down to the lowest Private, need to act like leaders and watch out for their troops. The best prevention we have is each other.
Sorry this is so long, Zooey, but you know what an issue this is for me.
December 20th, 2006 at 2:41 pm#1, Yes, all branches track this information and it is a matter of public record.
December 20th, 2006 at 2:55 pmJust think how many it will be when they’re draftees, and not volunteers.
December 20th, 2006 at 4:28 pmSorry this is so long, Zooey, but you know what an issue this is for me.
Comment by robert
Thank you, Robert. Your ideas sound excellent. This is a very sad situation.
December 20th, 2006 at 6:30 pmMore blood on the hands of the traitors in Washington
December 20th, 2006 at 7:38 pmUS suicide rate, iirc, is 8 per 100,000. Its about double the US murder rate. So this rate is alarming, more than double the civilian rate.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:39 pm